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Balancing your tires with Air Soft BB's

One of the things I've wanted to try for awhile was balancing my tires using Air Soft pellets. It seems like I am always throwing the metal cramp on weights that discount puts on and constantly needing the tires re-balanced.

To start out I looked at this dyna bead chart to get an idea of how many ounces I would need for each tire.

The next step was to break the bead on the tire. Mike came over and we decided wed find another use for the hi lift and use the downward force of it to pop the bead.

The idea works great, just don't do it like this

Mike must have been hanging around me too much, because doing it this way, the jack will push into your door and leave a big dent! Luckily we noticed in time before damage was done

Using your front bumper is much better

Once the bead was off we had the idea to use a funnel to guide the pellets in.

Again this didn't really work that well. Its much easier to just dump them in with the cup.

Once the beads are in its time to play with fire and re-seat the bead. At first we tried using lighter fluid.

The flame didnt burn hot or quick enough to get the bead back on. But it stills fun lighting things on fire.

Next we did it the correct way and sprayed starting fluid around the rim.

Much better

Once the beads on the last step is airing them up and bolting them back on. I noticed a difference in balancing compared with the metal weights. It seems to do better and I don't have any wobble in them anymore. They do make a little noise when stopping but its nothing distracting or annoying.

Setting the bead with FIRE!

Last edited by Skatchkins; 06-20-2011 at 10:10 PM.

Zombie Caving
Siblings are like sausages. Itís better not to see them being made.

Great job, Chris. I'm running bead in my TJ (especially due to the bead locks) and they work great for me. I can tell a difference between having them and not. The Ounce Chart is very helpful. I just always put in 1 cup for my 40's, 3/4 a cup for my 35's, but it's nice to have science now.

*** side note*** it's a lot easier to put the bead in on beadlock tires. LOL

Way too much starter fluid. Get the air compressor out and hook it to the valve stem while pumping air. Then, run one quick ring of starter fluid around the rim and light. Looks like you did 2+ passes.

Way too much starter fluid. Get the air compressor out and hook it to the valve stem while pumping air. Then, run one quick ring of starter fluid around the rim and light. Looks like you did 2+ passes.

It was much more fun that way
Plus it was having trouble coming out of the can at that angle.

I've always used this method on
1. Tractor tires which are 3-5 times bigger.
2. With the valve stem removed. (Just to seat the bead)
3. With an air line clamped on and pumping air.

When it goes, it usually is more violent whoosh than what I see in your video and blows the flame out itself. Get too much starter fluid in there and your tire will/can explode. I think tire shops have "cage" setups for reseating tires.